Hight steps down as Larkin softball coach

During his 16-year run as head coach of the Larkin softball team, Larry Hight once had a conversation with his father concerning the right time to eventually step down.

“I never wanted to retire,” Hight said, “but my dad said ‘You’ll know when it’s time.’ And this is the time.”

Citing an increased workload as the sole guidance counselor to approximately 350 Larkin High seniors working toward graduation, Hight made the difficult decision last week to give up coaching softball to better concentrate on his duties. This will mark the first year Hight will counsel seniors only.

“I thought about it all summer,” he said. “Counseling seniors is a huge job and I haven’t done it since they changed the format two years ago. I have witnessed the last two years what the senior counselors go through in the spring. It seems there are always five to 10 students waiting to see the senior counselor. I can’t imagine doing that and trying to coach at the same time in the spring.

“Something had to give and it can’t be counseling. Academics comes before athletics.”

Hight won 304 games in his 16 seasons (19 avg.), not to mention regional titles in 1999, 2003 and 2004. His most treasured statistic, however? The 45 young women he coached at Larkin who went on to play college softball. It’s a number that could reach 50 by the time all the players from Hight’s final team reach college.

“That’s the thing I’m proud of the most, not the wins,” Hight said. “I have a plaque in my office with all their names. I call them the do-ers. I’m glad I was able to have a hand in their success. It was a lot of fun.”